A friend of mine was talking to me about the severe pain I have at the opening of my vagina and my gyn says that I am healthy and it's probably vaginismus...so my friend said she had a friend who was prescribed Lidocaine which apparently is a topical anesthetic to apply to help. Have any of you ladies used it before?

I was prescribed this after my chemo radiation treatments. You have to apply it, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off so that your partner does not become numb. And if you get some on your clitoris, you won't climax. That's about all I remember from it. I only used it a couple of times. Hope that helps.

___________________________________________________________________________How we handle our spouse's shortcomings reveals more about our own character than theirs. * I’ve already told you more than I know.

Have you given birth, and if so did you have an episiotomy? Is this pain by any chance at or near your episiotomy scar?

My wife had a poorly healed episiotomy after our 2nd child; it took 3-1/2 years of her enduring very painful intercourse before she realized it wouldn't get better and she eventually got sent to a specialist in the subject. A couple of treatments of a 'cocktail' of drugs (think it was something like lidocaine for pain, and cortisone to alleviate the scar tissue) and our marriage got back on a good course where she wasn't afraid to engage in IC.

Episiotomy scars are little acknowledged, but more common than many drs will admit.

I've never given birth and really haven't even had that much sex. Handful of times in 10 years. I know, I know.

My GYN is not a good one at all and there is another around, but they won't give me an estimate of visit cost so there's no way I'm going to walk in there blindly without knowing the cost. We're tight on money as it is. So I'm stuck waiting. I just want to try to find some options that I can talk with my Dr. about in hopes that I can find some sort of relief. My GYN said it was in my head, that the pain is a mental thing but I'm not completely sure about that. I just don't know...it FEELS very physical whether I am aroused or not.